The Accidental Trad Wife

Is it vanity? 

Today’s the day of my chemical peel. I made the mistake last night of looking up all the things that can go wrong, and also what the recovery can look like. Quite possibly in a couple of days my skin will start flaking off in massive pieces like a victim of some infectious disease. 

It seems I’m someone who’s willing to pay the equivalent of a seven hour shift at minimum wage in the hope of possibly looking fresher and brighter. It could be that it really works, and makes me more confident, maybe that would be worth it? I don’t know. I’m still reflecting a lot on my spending habits, I’m not sure if I feel guilty, lucky or both. 

My appointment is booked in at 9:15, so I decided to just chill in the morning before it was time to leave. I had a shower and put on some grey leggings, an oversized sweater and Nikes. That seems like the right outfit for a Trad Wife out for a beauty treatment. 

At the salon

I walked down to the salon listening to some Counting Crows on the short walk, it’s only two songs away from home. 

When I turned up it was nice and welcoming, but not an environment I am comfortable in. The aesthetician took me down to a treatment room, and assured me that it is very unlikely that my skin would flake off with the new products and techniques they now use. I was a little disappointed, as it might have been nice to experience life as a lizard. 

As I had various creams, cloths and later acids applied to my face, we chatted. She asked “So what is it you do for work?” It’s a normal question, but it still feels like a gut punch, “At the moment, nothing” was my response. I did expand further than I’d been made redundant. Like most people, she said “Oh, I’m sorry.” It made me think, do I feel sorry about this? Am I sad? And honestly, I don’t think I am. I had been stressed for a year. Now, I’m not. 

The peel wasn’t at all bad. Warm and prickly. But I left the salon with skin that felt tighter, smoother and only a touch tomato coloured. It’s meant to keep doing things for the next few days. I’ll keep you posted, maybe I’ll wake up tomorrow looking ten years younger. 

Two Pixies songs took me back home, dropping into Tesco on the way for ingredients for Thai curry tonight. No oven needed. 

Back at home

I got through all the cleaning, albeit a bit slower than usual. I’m not meant to overexert myself to the point of sweating today, or be outside in the sun. Vampire rules. I realised I hadn’t done my planned yoga before I went out this morning, I’ll have to do gentle sweat free stretching once the weather cools down this evening. 

I chilled out on the sofa for a while, watching yet another murder documentary and drinking yet another glass of prosecco.

My husband came home, I kissed him at the door. He carefully inspected my face and said it did indeed look fresher. Maybe it was worth it? Maybe I’ll book them monthly? But if I keep doing it, it should be for me. But what that means I have no idea. 

I made the Thai green curry for dinner with chicken, baby corn and mange tout, served with some prawn crackers for all important dipping. It’s a very easy dinner, rather than my usual high effort meals. But my oven is still broken, and I’m waiting for a call back from the company who are going to come and take a look. Hopefully they’ll come tomorrow. 

We sat down to eat dinner in front of an episode of Black Mirror, I like a reminder that the world is fucked through futuristic tellings on subscription services. However, it’s been another pleasant day.

The Trad Wife round up:

Face peel verdict: So far, so good
Oven: Still not fixed
What do I do for work? At the moment, nothing
Prawn crackers dipped: 20+